Intelligent remote control

ABSTRACT

A disclosed remote control, suitable for use with a set top box or other form of multimedia handling device, includes a processor, a user input device, and a display. The user input device and the display are communicatively coupled to the processor. A communication adapter is configured to place the processor in bi-directional communication with the multimedia handling device. The remote control further includes a storage medium that may include a unique identifier of the user and a user profile indicative of the user&#39;s channel preferences and viewing permissions. The storage medium may further include software instructions to synchronize the user profile with a corresponding user profile on the multimedia handling device, receive input from the user via the user input device, the input including commands from the user to manipulate the multimedia handling device, and display output on the display screen in response to the user&#39;s commands.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to the field of remote controls and, moreparticularly, to an intelligent remote control suitable for use inconjunction with a multimedia distribution network.

2. Description of the Related Art

Prior art multimedia distribution networks often provide customerpremises equipment (CPE), including a remote control useful forcontrolling a set-top box (STB) or other multimedia handling device(MHD). Prior art remote controls may rely on unidirectionalcommunication over an infrared (IR) link.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of amultimedia content distribution network (MCDN);

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of anMCDN;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of anMHD;

FIG. 4 is a network diagram showing selected elements of an MCDN, inwhich a user interacts with an intelligent remote control (IRC);

FIG. 5 is a network diagram showing selected elements of an MCDN, inwhich the bi-directional link is provided by a cellular internet link;

FIG. 6 is a network diagram illustrating selected elements of an MCDNwherein a bi-directional link is embodied as a wireless local areanetwork (LAN);

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating selected elements of anembodiment of an IRC;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart disclosing selected elements of an embodiment ofa method enabling an IRC interacting with an MHD.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In a particular embodiment, a disclosed IRC provides bi-directionalcommunication with an STB or other MHD as well as enhanced processingcapabilities. The IRC may include user profiles, which may be locallystored on the IRC and which may be synchronized with the MHD.

An IRC may be a stand-alone device, or it may be an existing deviceadapted or re-adapted for use as an IRC. For example, a mobiletelephone, smart phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), laptopcomputer, or other mobile device may be programmed to act as an IRC. Aportable IRC may have a unique identifier (UID), which in some cases maybe a globally unique identifier (GUID). A GUID enables a device to beuniquely identified from any other similar device. If a device has onlya local UID, it is primarily or solely useful only with a primary MHD ora small set of MHDs at a user's primary location. However, by employinga GUID instead of a local UID, an IRC may be configured for use with anycompatible MHD, including MHDs at other locations. For example, a usermay visit a friend's home and use an IRC, which includes his own storedpreferences, to access his friend's MHD. In other embodiments, an IRCmay not store its profile locally. Instead, the user's profile may bestored on a central server accessible by compatible MHDs. In theseembodiments, the MHD may use the IRC's GUID as a key for finding anddownloading a “roaming” user profile.

In another aspect, a disclosed IRC has the ability to receive remotenotifications. For example, an option in a user profile may be anelection to receive certain notifications. Available notifications mayinclude, for example, program notifications, emergency notifications,and caller identification (CID) forwarding. For example, a user may wantto watch a television program live, but wants to be doing something elsein the interim. The user can elect to receive a notification fiveminutes before the show starts as a reminder. Notifications could alsobe provided when a particular program ends, or an alarm could simply beset for a pre-selected time. If the MHD has multimedia content analysiscapabilities, as described, for example, in commonly assigned andco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/342,384, entitledDistributed Content Analysis Network, filed Dec. 23, 2008, incorporatedby reference herein, a user can, for example, instruct the MHD torecognize the sportscaster on a local news station, and then receive anotification when the sports segment of the evening news starts. Inanother example, a user could elect to receive a text message whenever afavorite television show is broadcast, or when movies featuring afavorite actor are broadcast. Another option is the ability to receiveforwarded CID information. For example, many Internet protocoltelevision (IPTV) subscribers also subscribe to Voice over IP (VOIP)service, and may receive CID notifications on the television screen.These CID notifications could be forwarded to the IRC. Finally, an MHDcould be programmed to recognize a broadcast from the U.S. EmergencyAlert System (EAS) and provide a notification of the alert.

In some embodiments, a disclosed IRC may include a user-selectabledisplay mode. Because an IRC may have a display screen, user interfacescreens that would otherwise be displayed on the television or otherdisplay device can be sent to the IRC. This may prevent the need ofinterrupting the flow of a program to interact with an electronicprogramming guide (EPG) or other MHD functions. The display mode can beselected from one of three available modes. First, display screen only,in which case the user interface is displayed only on the display screenof the IRC. Second, television display only, in which case the userinterface is displayed only on the television or similar display device.Third, dual display, in which case the user interface is displayed onboth screens.

Another useful feature of a disclosed IRC is the ability to sharelocally-created multimedia content with an MHD. For example, many mobilephones and other handheld devices are equipped with digital camerasuseful for taking pictures and recording videos. Because some MHDs havedigital video recorder (DVR) capabilities, including the ability toreceive pictures and video, it may be desirable to send content createdon the IRC to the MHD. The provision of a bi-directional communicationlink in accordance with the present disclosure enables the sharing ofpictures and videos created on the IRC with the MHD.

An IRC will now be described with more particular reference to theattached drawings. In the following description, details are set forthby way of example to facilitate discussion of the disclosed subjectmatter. It should be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in thefield, however, that the disclosed embodiments are exemplary and notexhaustive of all possible embodiments. Throughout this disclosure, ahyphenated form of a reference numeral refers to a specific instance ofan element and the un-hyphenated form of the reference numeral refers tothe element generically or collectively. Thus, for example, widget 12-1refers to an instance of a widget class, which may be referred tocollectively as widgets 12 and any one of which may be referred togenerically as a widget 12.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustratingselected elements of an embodiment of an MCDN 100. Although multimediacontent is not limited to TV, video on demand (VOD), or pay-per-view(PPV) programs, the depicted embodiments of MCDN 100 and itscapabilities are primarily described herein with reference to thesetypes of multimedia content, which are interchangeably referred toherein as multimedia content, multimedia content program(s), multimediaprograms or, simply, programs.

The elements of MCDN 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 depict networkembodiments with functionality for delivering multimedia content to aset of one or more subscribers. It is noted that different embodimentsof MCDN 100 may include additional elements or systems (not shown inFIG. 1 for clarity) as desired for additional functionality, such asdata processing systems for billing, content management, customersupport, operational support, or other business applications.

As depicted in FIG. 1, MCDN 100 includes one or more clients 120 and aservice provider 121. Each client 120 may represent a differentsubscriber of MCDN 100. In FIG. 1, a plurality of n clients 120 isdepicted as client 120-1, client 120-2 to client 120-n, where n may be alarge number. Service provider 121 as depicted in FIG. 1 encompassesresources to acquire, process, and deliver programs to clients 120 viaaccess network 130. Such elements in FIG. 1 of service provider 121include content acquisition resources 180 connected to switching network140 via backbone network 170, as well as application server 150,database server 190, and content delivery server 160, also shownconnected to switching network 140.

Access network 130 demarcates clients 120 and service provider 121, andprovides connection path(s) between clients 120 and service provider121. In some embodiments, access network 130 is an Internet protocol(IP) compliant network. In some embodiments, access network 130 is, atleast in part, a coaxial cable network. It is noted that in someembodiments of MCDN 100, access network 130 is owned and/or operated byservice provider 121. In other embodiments, a third party may own and/oroperate at least a portion of access network 130.

In IP-compliant embodiments of access network 130, access network 130may include a physical layer of unshielded twist pair cables, fiberoptic cables, or a combination thereof. MCDN 100 may include digitalsubscribe line (DSL) compliant twisted pair connections between clients120 and a node (not depicted) in access network 130 while fiber, cableor another broadband medium connects service provider resources to thenode. In other embodiments, the broadband cable may extend all the wayto clients 120.

As depicted in FIG. 1, switching network 140 provides connectivity forservice provider 121, and may be housed in a central office or otherfacility of service provider 121. Switching network 140 may providefirewall and routing functions to demarcate access network 130 from theresources of service provider 121. In embodiments that employ DSLcompliant connections, switching network 140 may include elements of aDSL Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) that multiplexes many subscriber DSLs tobackbone network 170.

In FIG. 1, backbone network 170 represents a private network including,as an example, a fiber based network to accommodate high data transferrates. Content acquisition resources 180 as depicted in FIG. 1 encompassthe acquisition of various types of content including broadcast content,other “live” content including national content feeds, and VOD content.

Thus, the content provided by service provider 121 encompassesmultimedia content that is scheduled in advance for viewing by clients120 via access network 130. Such multimedia content, also referred toherein as “scheduled programming,” may be selected using an EPG, such asEPG 316 described below with respect to FIG. 3. Accordingly, a user ofMCDN 100 may be able to browse scheduled programming well in advance ofthe broadcast date and time. Some scheduled programs may be “regularly”scheduled programs, which recur at regular intervals or at the sameperiodic date and time (i.e. daily, weekly, monthly, etc.). Programswhich are broadcast at short notice or interrupt scheduled programs arereferred to herein as “unscheduled programming.”

Acquired content is provided to content delivery server 160 via backbonenetwork 170 and switching network 140. Content may be delivered fromcontent delivery server 160 to clients 120 via switching network 140 andaccess network 130. Content may be compressed, encrypted, modulated,demodulated, and otherwise encoded or processed at content acquisitionresources 180, content delivery server 160, or both. Although FIG. 1depicts a single element encompassing acquisition of all content,different types of content may be acquired via different types ofacquisition resources. Similarly, although FIG. 1 depicts a singlecontent delivery server 160, different types of content may be deliveredby different servers. Moreover, embodiments of MCDN 100 may includecontent acquisition resources in regional offices that are connected toswitching network 140.

Although service provider 121 is depicted in FIG. 1 as having switchingnetwork 140 to which content acquisition resources 180, content deliveryserver 160, and application server 150 are connected, other embodimentsmay employ different switching networks for each of these functionalcomponents and may include additional functional components (notdepicted in FIG. 1) including, for example, operational subsystemsupport (OSS) resources.

FIG. 1 also illustrates application server 150 connected to switchingnetwork 140. As suggested by its name, application server 150 may hostor otherwise implement one or more applications for multimedia contentdelivery network 100. Application server 150 may be any data processingsystem with associated software that provides applications for clientsor users. Application server 150 may provide services includingmultimedia content services, e.g., EPGs, DVR, VOD, or PPVs, IPTV portal,digital rights management (DRM) servers, navigation/middleware servers,conditional access systems (CAS), and remote diagnostics, as examples.

Applications provided by application server 150 may be downloaded andhosted on other network resources including, for example, contentdelivery server 160, switching network 140, and/or on clients 120.Application server 150 is configured with a processor and storage media(not shown in FIG. 1) and is enabled to execute processor instructions,such as those included within a software application. As depicted inFIG. 1, application server 150 may be configured to include programinterruption application 152, which, as will be described in detailbelow, is configured to respond to interruptions of desired programsincluded in the multimedia content provided to client 120 of MCDN 100.

Further depicted in FIG. 1 is database server 190, which provideshardware and software resources for data warehousing. Database server190 may communicate with other elements of the resources of serviceprovider 121, such as application server 150 or content delivery server160, in order to store and provide access to large volumes of data,information, or multimedia content. In some embodiments, database server190 includes a data warehousing application, accessible via switchingnetwork 140, that can be used to record and access structured data, suchas program or channel metadata used to identify the beginning and theend of program interruptions for clients 120, as will be discussed indetail below.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of amultimedia distribution network emphasizing the clients 120 and accessnetwork 130 depicted in FIG. 1. Clients 120 are shown in additionaldetail with respect to access network 130. Clients 120 may includenetwork appliances collectively referred to herein as CPE 122. In thedepicted embodiment, CPE 122 includes the following devices: gateway(GW) 123, MHD 125, and display device 126. Any combination of GW 123,MHD 125, and display device 126 may be integrated into a single physicaldevice. Thus, for example, CPE 122 might include a single physicaldevice that integrates GW 123, MHD 125, and display device 126. Asanother example, MHD 125 may be integrated into display device 126,while GW 123 is housed within a physically separate device.

In FIG. 2, GW 123 provides connectivity for client 120 to access network130. GW 123 may provide an interface and conversion function betweenaccess network 130 and client-side LAN 124. GW 123 may include elementsof a conventional DSL or cable modem. GW 123, in some embodiments, mayfurther include routing functionality for routing multimedia content,conventional data content, or a combination of both in compliance withIP or another network layer protocol. In some embodiments, LAN 124 mayencompass or represent an IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) LAN, an IEEE 802.11-type(WiFi) LAN, or a combination thereof GW 123 may still further includeWiFi or another type of wireless access point to extend LAN 124 towireless-capable devices in proximity to GW 123. GW 123 may also providea firewall (not depicted) between clients 120 and access network 130.

Clients 120 as depicted in FIG. 2 further include a display device or,more simply, a display 126. Display 126 may be implemented as a TV, aliquid crystal display screen, a computer monitor, or the like. Display126 may comply with a display standard such as National TelevisionSystem Committee (NTSC), Phase Alternating Line (PAL), or anothersuitable standard. Display 126 may include one or more integratedspeakers to play audio content.

Clients 120 are further shown with their respective remote control 128,which is configured to control the operation of MHD 125 by means of auser interface (not shown in FIG. 2) displayed on display 126. Remotecontrol 128 of client 120 is operable to communicate requests orcommands wirelessly to MHD 125 using IR or radio frequency (RF) signals.MHDs 125 may also receive requests or commands via buttons (notdepicted) located on side panels of MHDs 125.

MHD 125 is enabled and configured to process incoming multimedia signalsto produce audio and visual signals suitable for delivery to display 126and any optional external speakers (not depicted). Incoming multimediasignals received by MHD 125 may be compressed and/or encrypted, digitalor analog, packetized for delivery over packet switched embodiments ofaccess network 130 or modulated for delivery over cable-based accessnetworks. In some embodiments, MHD 125 may be implemented as astand-alone STB suitable for use in a co-axial or IP-based MCDN.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating selected elements of anembodiment of MHD 125. In FIG. 3, MHD 125 is shown as a functionalcomponent of CPE 122 along with GW 123 and display 126, independent ofany physical implementation, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 2.In particular, it is noted that CPE 122 may be any combination of GW123, MHD 125 and display 126.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, MHD 125 includes processor 301coupled via shared bus 302 to storage media collectively identified asstorage 310. MHD 125, as depicted in FIG. 3, further includes networkadapter 320 that interfaces MHD 125 to LAN 124 and through which MHD 125receives multimedia content 360. GW 123 is shown providing a bridgebetween access network 130 and LAN 124, and receiving multimedia content360 from access network 130.

In embodiments suitable for use in IP based content delivery networks,MHD 125, as depicted in FIG. 3, may include transport unit 330 thatassembles the payloads from a sequence or set of network packets into astream of multimedia content. In coaxial based access networks, contentmay be delivered as a stream that is not packet-based and it may not benecessary in these embodiments to include transport unit 330. In aco-axial implementation, however, clients 120 may require tuningresources (not explicitly depicted in FIG. 3) to “filter” desiredcontent from other content that is delivered over the coaxial mediumsimultaneously and these tuners may be provided in MHDs 125. The streamof multimedia content received by transport unit 330 may include audioinformation and video information and transport unit 330 may parse orsegregate the two to generate video stream 332 and audio stream 334 asshown.

Video and audio streams 332 and 334, as output from transport unit 330,may include audio or video information that is compressed, encrypted, orboth. A decoder unit 340 is shown as receiving video and audio streams332 and 334 and generating native format video and audio streams 342 and344. Decoder 340 may employ any of various widely distributed videodecoding algorithms including any of the Motion Pictures Expert Group(MPEG) standards, Windows Media Video (WMV) standards including WMV 9,which has been standardized as Video Codec-1 (VC-1) by the Society ofMotion Picture and Television Engineers. Similarly decoder 340 mayemploy any of various audio decoding algorithms including Dolby®Digital, Digital Theatre System (DTS) Coherent Acoustics, and WindowsMedia Audio (WMA).

The native format video and audio streams 342 and 344 as shown in FIG. 3may be processed by encoders/digital-to-analog converters(encoders/DACs) 350 and 360 respectively to produce analog video andaudio signals 352 and 354 in a format compliant with display 126, whichitself may not be a part of MHD 125. Display 126 may comply with NTSC,PAL or any other suitable television standard.

Storage 310 encompasses persistent and volatile media, fixed andremovable media, and magnetic and semiconductor media. Storage 310 isoperable to store instructions, data, or both. Storage 310 as shownincludes sets or sequences of instructions, namely, an operating system312, a remote control application program identified as RC module 314,EPG 316, and channel monitoring 318. Operating system 312 may be a UNIXor UNIX-like operating system, a Windows® family operating system, oranother suitable operating system. In some embodiments, storage 310 isconfigured to store and execute instructions provided as services toclient 120 by application server 150, as mentioned previously.

User profile 332 includes channel preferences and channel permissions.In some embodiments, user profile 332 may be selected from among threetypes of profiles. The first type of profile is called the “defaultprofile,” which is a pre-defined profile based on features/channelssubscribed to. This is the default configuration of the IRC. The secondtype of profile is a “regular profile,” which is a content-restrictedprofile. A regular profile will include some subscribed channels, butwill be restricted from accessing channels and programs that arepotentially offensive (based, for example, on rating). Users with accessto a regular profile may further customize the profile to excludechannels or other content they are not interested in. The third type ofprofile is called an “advanced profile.” An advanced profile has accessto all stations and content, and may start out with everything madeavailable by the default profile. An advanced user may customize theprofile to exclude channels or other content he or she is not interestedin. After a regular profile or advanced profile is customized, it may besaved as the default profile for that particular IRC, though theoriginal default profile may be saved in a backup location in case theuser wants to reset the IRC to its original configuration. Storage 310also includes user preferences 334, which may store additional userpreferences such as languages, closed captioning, and preferred format.

EPG 316 represents a guide to the multimedia content provided to client120 via MCDN 100, and may be shown to the user as an element of the userinterface. The user interface may include a plurality of menu itemsarranged according to one or more menu layouts, which enable a user tooperate MHD 125. The user may operate the user interface, including EPG316, using remote control 128 (see FIG. 2) in conjunction with RC module314.

FIG. 4 is a network diagram showing selected elements of an embodimentof MCDN 100, in which a user 430 interacts with an IRC 128. User 430watches display 126, which may be a television or other similar device.User 430 may manipulate IRC 128 via a user input device 760 (FIG. 7),receiving visual feedback via a display screen 780 (FIG. 7) and audiofeedback via a speaker 790 (FIG. 7). IRC 128 communicates with MHD 125over a bi-directional link 420. Bi-directional link 420 may be one ofseveral well-known protocols that permit two devices to interactwirelessly. For example, at very short ranges, a bi-directional IR linkmay be usable. Per Infrared Data Association (IrDA) standards, IR linksmay have a maximum range of 0.2 m to 1.0 m at speeds of up to 16 Mb/s.Other short-range applications may employ a Bluetooth interface, whichdepending on the class of device, may provide a maximum range between 1m and 100 m, and a maximum data rate between 1 Mb/s and 480 Mb/s.Another option is a wireless connection under one of the IEEE 802.11standards, which provide typical data rates between 11 Mb/s and 140 Mb/sand ranges from approximately 30 m to 100 m or more. By employing abi-directional link 440, IRC 128 is enabled to provide a richer featureset than a uni-directional remote control.

MHD receives a multimedia content stream from access network 130 throughgateway 123. This content stream may be provided to display 126. In someembodiments, bi-directional link 420 may enable MHD 125 to also providemultimedia content to IRC 128, so that user can view the content whentemporarily away from display 126.

FIG. 5 is a network diagram showing selected elements of an embodimentof MCDN 100, in which bi-directional link 420 is implemented as acellular internet link 420-1. In this case, IRC 128 may be a mobiletelephone, smart phone, PDA, personal computer, laptop computer, orother internet-capable device. User 430 interacts with IRC 128 asbefore. IRC 128 communicates with a base station 510 over cellularinternet link 420-1. Base station 510 routes traffic to a cellularnetwork 560, including a base station subsystem 580 in communicationwith base station 510, and a switching subsystem 590 in communicationwith base station subsystem 580. Switching subsystem 590 connectscellular network 560 to access network 130 over a broadband connection520. MHD 125 communicates with access network 130 through a secureconnection 530. Secure connection 530 is required because MHD 125 isexposed to the entire access network 130, and may be secured byauthentication, encryption, or other security techniques known in theart.

In the embodiment shown, a switch 127 between display 126 and MHD 125 isin its “off” position. This arrangement illustrates that withbi-directional link 420 user 430 may use IRC 128 to interact with an EPG316 (FIG. 3) or other features of MHD 125 even when display 126 is notused.

Although FIG. 5 illustrates a wireless internet connection, it is alsopossible to provide the same functionality over a wired broadbandinternet connection to a personal computer.

FIG. 6 is a network diagram illustrating selected elements of anembodiment of a MCDN-n 100 wherein bi-directional link 420 is embodiedas a wireless local area network (WLAN) 420-2. In this case, user 430interacts with IRC 128, which is connected to a wireless access point(WAP) 610 over a WLAN connection. WAP 610 may provide a wirelesssubnetwork that includes IRC 128 and MHD 125 as nodes. In this case, itmay not be necessary to secure the connection between IRC 128 and MHD125 because local network traffic can be isolated by a firewall. In someembodiments, it may still be necessary for IRC 128 to authenticateitself to MHD 125 so that MHD 125 can determine which user profile towork from.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating selected elements of anembodiment of an IRC 128. The IRC as depicted in FIG. 7 128 iscontrolled by a processor 710, which connects to other elements via adata bus 712. A communications adapter 720 is communicatively coupled tobi-directional link 420, and is configured to translate messages betweenprocessor 710 and bi-directional link 420. An input adapter 750 isconfigured to receive inputs from user input device 760, which mayinclude a keyboard or other buttons, a stylus and touch screen, or otherinput methods known in the art. Display adapter 740 receives displayinformation, which it formats for use with display screen 780. Soundadapter 770 receives audio information and formats it for use withspeaker 790.

Storage 730 may encompass both volatile and non-volatile memory, or somecombination thereof. An operating system 739 is provided to providelow-level functions, and may be a commonly-used embedded operatingsystem such as Unix, Linux, Microsoft Windows® Embedded, or VxWorks®.User profiles 732 is a local copy of user profile 332 provided by MHD125. User preferences 734 is a local copy of user preferences 334 in MHD125. User profiles 732 and user preferences 734 may be synchronized withMHD 125 upon connection or as necessary. Authentication data 736 mayinclude data that identifies IRC 128 to MHD 125. This may be a UID 738assigned to IRC 128. Authentication data 736 may also include dataidentifying a specific user profile. In some cases, a UID may be a GUID,meaning that the UID is globally unique. A GUID would permit IRC 128 tobe used with any compatible MHD 125. For example, a user who owns IRC128 may visit a friend who has a compatible MHD 125 able to access MCDN100. With a GUID, IRC 128 may be enabled to interface with compatibleMHD 125, and the user may then access programs according to his storedpreferences.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart disclosing selected aspects of a method of an IRC128 interacting with an MHD 125. In block 810, MHD 125 receives acommunication request from IRC 128. The communication request mayinclude a header or other data packet that provides a UID or GUID. Inblock 820, the UID or GUID is extracted so that MHD 125 can identify IRC128 and determine, in block 830, whether IRC 128 is authorized toconnect. If IRC 128 is not authorized to connect, no further action istaken and the process is terminated in block 870. If the IRC isauthenticated, in block 840, MHD 125 determines whether synchronizationis required with IRC 128. If synchronization is not required, the MHD125 immediately starts processing commands in block 860. Ifsynchronization is required, then in block 850 the synchronization isperformed, after which the MHD 125 starts processing commands in block860. MHD 125 continues to process commands according to block 860 untilthe interaction is completed (for example, when a timer times out afternot receiving a command for a specified period, or when an explicittermination signal is received), after which the process terminates inblock 870.

To the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the presentdisclosure is to be determined by the broadest permissibleinterpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shallnot be restricted or limited to the specific embodiments described inthe foregoing detailed description.

1. An intelligent remote control suitable (or operable) for use with amultimedia handling device, the intelligent remote control comprising: aprocessor; a user input device communicatively coupled to the processorvia an input adapter; a display screen communicatively coupled to theprocessor via a display adapter; a communication adapter communicativelycoupled to the processor and configured to place the processor inbidirectional communication with a multimedia handling device; and astorage medium containing: a unique identifier identifying a user; auser profile indicative of channel preferences and viewing permissionsof the user; and software instructions to: synchronize the user profilewith a corresponding user profile on the multimedia handling device;receive input from the user via the user input device, the inputcomprising commands from the user to manipulate the multimedia handlingdevice; and display output on the display screen in response to theuser's commands.
 2. The intelligent remote control of claim 1 whereinthe unique identifier is a globally unique identifier whereby theintelligent remote control is usable with any compatible multimediahandling device.
 3. The intelligent remote control of claim 1 whereinthe storage medium further comprises software instructions to: createlocal multimedia content; and send the local multimedia content to themultimedia handling device.
 4. The intelligent remote control of claim 1wherein the storage medium further comprises software instructions toreceive and display notification messages from the multimedia handlingdevice.
 5. The intelligent remote control of claim 4 wherein thenotification messages include forwarded caller identification messages.6. The intelligent remote control of claim 4 wherein the notificationmessages include notifications of the beginning or ending of amultimedia television program.
 7. The intelligent remote control ofclaim 4 wherein the notification messages include emergencynotifications.
 8. The intelligent remote control of claim 1 wherein thestorage medium further comprises instructions to instruct the multimediahandling device to display an electronic programming guide on thedisplay screen of the intelligent remote control.
 9. The intelligentremote control of claim 1 wherein the bi-directional link is a radiofrequency link.
 10. The intelligent remote control of claim 1 whereinthe bi-directional link is an IEEE 802.11-type (WiFi) link.
 11. Theintelligent remote control of claim 1 wherein the bi-directional link isa secure internet connection, whereby the user is enabled to interactwith the multimedia handling device via a web browser.
 12. Theintelligent remote control of claim 1 wherein the storage mediumincludes a plurality of profiles.
 13. The intelligent remote control ofclaim 12 wherein the plurality of profiles includes a profile selectedfrom the group consisting of: a default profile, the default profilebeing based on available features and channels; a regular profile, theregular profile blocking potentially-objectionable content; and anadvanced profile, the advanced profile providing access topotentially-objectionable content.
 14. A mobile telephone configured toact as an intelligent remote control in accordance with claim
 1. 15. Acomputer-readable storage medium containing computer executableinstructions to: process a signal from an intelligent remote control,the signal including a unique identifier; locate a user profileassociated with the unique identifier; provide the user profile to theintelligent remote control over a bi-directional communication link;receive a display mode instruction from the intelligent remote control,the display mode being selected from the group consisting of displayscreen only, television display only, and display screen and televisiondisplay, wherein display screen only mode indicates that output shouldbe directed only to a display screen on the intelligent remote control,television display only mode indicates that output should be directedonly to a television display connected to the multimedia handlingdevice, and display screen and television display mode indicates thatoutput should be directed both to the display screen and the televisiondisplay; and provide an interactive display in accordance with thedisplay mode instruction.
 16. The storage medium of claim 15 furthercomprising instructions to receive multimedia content from theintelligent remote control.
 17. The storage medium of claim 15 furthercomprising instructions to: detect an event for notification; andprovide a notification message to the intelligent remote control inresponse to the event.
 18. The storage medium of claim 17 wherein thealert condition is an incoming caller identification.
 19. The storagemedium of claim 17 wherein the alert condition is an emergency eventnotification.
 20. The storage medium of claim 17 wherein the alertcondition is a change in the status of a multimedia program.
 21. Amethod for interacting with a multimedia handling device, the methodcomprising the steps of: providing an intelligent remote control, theintelligent remote control: being operable for bi-directionalcommunication with the multimedia handling device; being capable ofinteracting with the multimedia handling device independent of atelevision display connected to the multimedia handling device; andincluding a portable individual profile corresponding to a user, theportable individual profile being tied to a global unique identifier andincluding channel preferences and channel permissions; and using theintelligent remote to interact with an electronic programming guideprovided by the multimedia handling device without causing electronicprogramming guide information to be displayed on the television display.22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of creatinglocal multimedia content on the intelligent remote control and sendingthe local multimedia content to the multimedia handling device.
 23. Themethod of claim 21 further comprising receiving a notification messagefrom the multimedia handling device.
 24. The method of claim 23 whereinthe notification message is selected from the group consisting of anemergency warning, forwarded caller identification information, andnotification of the status of a multimedia program.
 25. An intelligentremote control for controlling a multimedia handling device, theintelligent remote control comprising: a processor; a communicationadapter communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to placethe processor in bi-directional communication with a multimedia handlingdevice over an internet protocol connection; and a storage mediumcomprising: an individual profile including channel preferences andviewing permissions, the individual profile being tied to a globalunique identifier; processor executable instructions to create localmultimedia content; and software instructions to send the multimediacontent to the multimedia handling device and to instruct the multimediahandling device to store the local multimedia content.
 26. Theintelligent remote control of claim 25 further configured to receivefrom the multimedia handling device notification of an event, the eventselected from the group consisting of an emergency situation, anincoming telephone call, and the status of a multimedia program.
 27. Theintelligent remote control of claim 25 wherein the storage mediumfurther comprises instructions to provide a user-selectable display modefor control functions, the display mode being selected from the groupconsisting of display screen only, television display only, and dualdisplay.